Polishers for cereals

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to improvements in polishers for cereals, and more specifically, to a cereal polisher with a specialization for sorghum, for the specific reason that this cereal presents certain difficulties in refinement, that is to say in the husking of it. The polisher comprises a set of spaced disc-like stones mounted on a cylinder for rotation about a shaft and surrounded by a mesh. The grain is inserted at one end of the cylinder and removed at the other end and is polished by striking the stones. The grain when bouncing off the stones may strike and be deflected from a set of vanes that vary in position from substantially parallel to the stones to skewed positions causing various degrees of axial deflection, thereby determining the degree of polishing.

United States Patent 1191 Ceballos-Aguilera May 27, 1975 [54] POLISHERS FOR CEREALS 499,349 11/1954 Italy 99/605 [76] Inventor: Guillermo Ceballos-Aguilera,

Escobedo Sur 733 Suite 201, Primary ExammerHarvey C.. Homsby Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico Assistant Examiner-Arthur 0. Henderson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Laurence R. Brown [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 21 Appl. No.; 341,555 57 ABSTRACT This invention relates to improvements in polishers for [52] US. Cl. 99/605; 99/600; 99/608 cereals, and more specifically, to a cereal polisher [51] Int. Cl B02b 3/02 with a Specialization for sorghum, for the specific rea- [58] Field of Search 99/469, 605, 606, 607, son that this cereal presents certain difficulties in re- 99/608, 623 finement, that is to say in the husking of it. The polisher comprises a set of spaced disc-like stones [56] References Cited mounted on a cylinder for rotation about a shaft and UNITED STATES PATENTS surrounded by a mesh. The grain is inserted at one end of the cylinder and removed at the other end and is polished by striking the stones. The grain when 170E839 2/1916 Molloy.....I:...::::::::::::::::: 99/606 x bouncing Off the Smiles may Strike and be deflected 11231534 6/1917 Couch 99/606 from a Set of vanes that y in Position from Substan- 2,618,307 11/1952 Keller 99/606 tially parallel to the stones to skewed positions causing 3,078,894 2/1963 Satake 99/605 various degrees of axial deflection, thereby determin- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS United Kingdom 99/605 ing the degree of polishing.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures POLISHERS FOR CEREALS This invention relates to improvements in polishers for cereals, and more specifically, to a cereal polisher with a specialization for sorghum, for the specific reason that this cereal presents certain difficulties in refinement, that is to say in the husking of it.

By the use of this invention it is possible to obtain a polish or husking of better quality in relation to that presently produced, and above all, by the use of this invention, it is possible to polish or husk cereals by a dry process; in other words, a process that avoids the use of a moistening agent that results in a delay of the husking process or polishing process and above all results in an easier maintenance of the machines used in this procedure.

The characteristic details of this invention are made clear in the following description and in the drawings which accompany it as an illustration of it and having the same reference characters to indicate the same parts in the various figures shown.

FIG. 1, shows a schematic elevation view partly in section, of the polisher.

FIG. 2, shows a schematic view of the cover and the grain deflecting rotary vanes.

FIG. 3, shows a front section view of the rolling pin cylinder with the polishing stones, the stone separators, the shaft, the end covers and the wheels that avoid the accumulation of the grain at the ends of the cylinder.

FIG. 4, gives an upper view of the cover in which one can see the ventilation ducts and the entrance of the feed cone, as well as the hatch that permits one to regulate the flow of grain to the interior of the polishers.

FIG. 5, gives a front view of the cabinet in whose right side one can see the column that serves to support the shaft by the bearing and to support the pulley which moves the rolling pin. To the left we see a view of the exit chute for the polished grain.

. FIG. 6, shows an end view of the cabinet in which one can observe the insertion slot for the shaft, the lateral door and the windows for viewing the product while it is in the process of manufacture.

FIG. 7, shows an end view of the rolling pin assembly in which one can see the stone, the mesh that covers this stone and the space between the stone and the mesh.

In regard to these figures, this polisher consists of a cylinder over which are placed polisher stones 11 whose function will be precisely to scrape off the covering of the cereal and more specifically, of sorghum, in such a way that the said scraping off removes the husks to leave the grain of sorghum free for a process of pulverizing which will convert it into flour to which it will later be submitted. For the purpose of supporting the cylinder 10 there is a shaft 12 on which the said cylinder is mounted from the center to rotate. A solid union exists between the polish stones l1 and the cylinder 10 so that they rotate together in the interior of the cabinet. Between each one of these stones 11 there is a separator 25a which permits fastening the stones in place and at the same time produces spaces in which the grain will accumulate in such a way that the polishers on the inside have a greater capacity of contact and consequently increases the polishing area since the Stones 11 also have in their sides the capacity to polish. Consequently the grain in these clefts come in contact with the stones 11 and also receive polishing in such a way that there is no direct contact of the stones ll between the separators 25. There is a packing 25a located in the separators 25 between the stones 11 with the object of avoiding the breakage or premature destruction of the stones as a consequence of a contact between the hard surface submitted to the mounting pressure on the cylinder 10.

The cylinder 10 has on its sides two covers 23 whose principle functions are to cover the sides of the cylinder 10 but at the same time to function as retainers of the stones ll exerting a pressure from the outside towards the center, in such a way that these stones 1 1 do not become loose axially nor do they rotate on the cylinder; and so that this pressure can be possible fixing nuts 24a are provided which are tightened by means of threads 24 b that are found on each side of the shaft 12, tightening at the same time the end covers 23 which as already said will tighten the stones 1 l. The end covers 23 have some rotating fins 24 whose object is to prevent the accumulation of grain, flour or waste in the sides of the cylinder 10 that would impede the normal function of the polisher. These rotating fins 24 are able to form a common body with the covers 23 or rather to join this by means of a screw or rivet.

The rolling pin cylinder 10 is encircled by a mesh 14 that is found separated from the surface of the stones by about one centimeter, forming a space in which the grain is found circulating, which is the function of this mesh 14. Meanwhile, the cylinder is circling, once the polisher is loaded within with grain. This grain bounces against the mesh and returns to the surface of the stone 11 until the husk or shell has been completely loosened. Once the husk is removed it will leave by the waste chute 15 which works by suction. The grain, now polished, will leave by the discharge chute 13 where by suction or gravity (according to the system in use) it will be conducted to the other step of processing it into flour.

Because the rolling pin cylinder can remain constantly rotating, its shaft 12 is fastened on a bearing 17 that is well able to be fabricated to the base of the cast metal, adapted to the circular form of the shaft 12 or rather it can be a bearing previously fabricated that is fastened to this place. To support the bearing there is a bearing support 16 over which is placed the mentioned bearing, and to make the rotation to the cylinder there is a pulley 18 through which (by a band and a motor which does not form a part of this invention the rolling pin and the rest of the machinery will rotate.

In the upper part of the cabinet there is a feed chute 19 across which the grain will be poured to the interior of the polisher which will husk and polish by controlling the passage of the grain across the feed chute 19. There is a feed hatch 26 which opens and closes manually, thus making it possible to increase or decrease the feeding of the grain to the center of the polisher. Also, over the upper part of the cabinet one finds the ventilation duct 20 whose principal purpose is, by means of an extractor 20 a, to suck the heat and humidity from the center part of the polisher; this heat derived from the grain which is introduced to the polisher and which, if allowed to remain in the center of it, would produce amalgamations, fungus and even, by accumulation, the fracture of one of the stones. Thus, extracting the heat and humidity as previously mentioned, the prejudicial consequences are avoided.

The area of the section from the ventilation duct 20 is increased to the lower part; it is divided into branches 21 and in this way there are more areas from which suction of the heat and humidity produced in the interior of the polisher can be effected. It is logical that these branches 21 are able to be increased in number according to the dimensions of the polisher or of the suction requirements.

On the end wall one finds the discharge chute 13 as mentioned before. It serves so that through this chute the husked grain will exit, and functions in such a way that it regulates the exits through this chute. There is a hatch 22 b which operates, opening to permit a better exit of grain and closing gradually to reduce the exit.

Once must explain that through upper window 30 and lower window 31 which are found in the lateral door 29 it is possible to observe how clean the grain is leaving. If the cleanliness being obtained is not of the desired quality, all that needs be done is close the exit hatch 22 b by movement of an arm 22 a turning the crank 22. This will make possible the control of the grain polishing. The hatch is found located exactly over the entrance 22 just as one finds a lateral opening in one of the sides 28 of the cabinet.

When it is necessary to make some repairs or to clean the discharge chute 13 there is a door 29 which can be opened completely so that it is possible to accomplish the operations necessary in the discharge chute 13, be it to clean or repair.

This polisher is formed by two end walls 28, one cover 27, a front 28 a and a back part 28 b that are the parts that form the cabinet of the polisher. On both end walls is found a cleft or crack 32 whose purpose is that through it the shaft 12, which supports the cylinder and the stone stays fastened and functioning, at the same time the mesh 14 will be supported by the end walls 28 of the polisher by means of screws or rivets.

On the inside part of the cover 27 we find some deflectors 34 which function by emans of an arm 34 a that in its turn moves from the exterior by means of a crank 34 b. These deflectors 34 have the purpose of facilitating the exit of the grain towards the discharge chute 13, making it either easier or harder for the husks to exit to the waste chute 15; the conditions lead to the raising or bending of the deflectors 34. When they are bent, that is to say when they are parallel with the stones 11 the grain will circulate more rapidly towards the exit chute 15. Nevertheless, if one wishes to delay the stay of the grain in the cabinet so as to give it a longer treatment one needs only to incline the deflectors 34 in parallel relation to the stones 11 with the result that the grain migration to the exit is impelled and gives a longer time to be polished.

What I claim is:

l. Improvements in polishers for grains such as sorghum grain, comprising in combination, within a housing, a plurality of polishing disc-like members for frictionally engaging the grain arranged in substantially parallel relationship along the axis of a rotatable cylinder and held thereon to rotate therewith, a mesh surrounding the polishing members and closely spaced therefrom to receive grain bouncing off the members and direct it back to the members, a set of deflector vanes arranged for selective movement from positions substantially parallel to said members and positions deflecting grain bouncing off said polishing members axially along the axis of said rotatable member in a predetermined direction, a feed hopper assembly mounted to feed grain within said housing to the discs at one end of said rotatable cylinder to thereby be carried to the other end by deflection off said vanes, and a discharge chute at the other end of said rotatable cylinder to remove grains from said housing, suction means to remove hulls from said housing, and means for rotating said cylinder from outside said housing.

2. A polisher as defined in claim 1 having means including ventilation ducts leaving said housing at a position between said feed hopper and said discharge chute to thereby remove moisture and heat from said housing.

3. A polisher as defined in claim 1, wherein the cylinder is mounted within said housing with end portions spaced therefrom and having at each end of said rotatable cylinder between it and the housing, rotatable deflection fins for preventing accumulation of grain. 

1. Improvements in polishers for grains such as sorghum grain, comprising in combination, within a housing, a plurality of polishing disc-like members for frictionally engaging the grain arranged in substantially parallel relationship along the axis of a rotatable cylinder and held thereon to rotate therewith, a mesh surrounding the polishing members and closely spaced therefrom to receive grain bouncing off the members and direct it back to the members, a set of deflector vanes arranged for selective movement from positions substantially parallel to said members and positions deflecting grain bouncing off said polishing members axially along the axis of said rotatable member in a predetermined direction, a feed hopper assembly mounted to feed grain within said housing to the discs at one end of said rotatable cylinder to thereby be carried to the other end by deflection off said vanes, and a discharge chute at the other end of said rotatable cylinder to remove grains from said housing, suction means to remove hulls from said housing, and means for rotating said cylinder from outside said housing.
 2. A polisher as defined in claim 1 having means including ventilation ducts leaving said housing at a position between said feed hopper and said discharge chute to thereby remove moisture and heat from said housing.
 3. A polisher as defined in claim 1, wherein the cylinder is mounted within said housing with end portions spaced therefrom and having at each end of said rotatable cylinder between it and the housing, rotatable deflection fins for preventing accumulation of grain. 